Short musical films had been made from the earliest days of sound film, particularly by Lee de Forest in 1923 and 1924. But the "soundie" ushered in a self-contained, single-form music visual that could be watched at the viewer's discretion, almost exactly like contemporary music videos.
Soundies were three-minute 16mm films containing musical performances, produced in the USA between 1940-46. They were played on the Panoram, a coin-operated film jukebox that was available in nightclubs, restaurants, etc.
Louis Jordan (1908–1975) was an extraordinarily popular musician (vocalist and saxophonist) producing 57 hits between 1942 and 1951. His style of “jump blues” featured a larger-than-life persona, risqué humour, and elements that were precursors to both rock'n'roll and rap. His first soundies date to 1942.
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Band: “Old Man Mose” (dir. John C. Graham, 1942)
The Beatles were the first to produce a “filmed insert” in 1964. Not wishing to be present for Top Of The Pops, which was broadcast live, they entered BBC Riverside studios in advance. There they filmed performances of “Can't Buy Me Love” and “You Can't Do That”, which were inserted into the broadcast on 25 March 1964.
A more developed filmed insert, now quite famous, was produced the following year by Dylan.
Bob Dylan: “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (dir. D. A. Pennebaker, 1967):
In 1967 The Beatles pioneered an aesthetic taken from experimental film. They produced films for two songs, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” with director Peter Goldman. These were followed by the film “Magical Mystery Tour" (dir. The Beatles, 1967), created as a television special. These films use avant garde aesthetics, including reversed film, slow motion, and post-production filters. They are wilfully obscure, eschewing narrative altogether. Indeed, they barely acknowledge the song.
The Beatles: “Strawberry Fields Forever” (dir. Peter Goldman, 1967)
